Marking for note-sheets.



PATENTED MAY 21; 1907.

P. K. VAN YORX.

MARKING FOR NOTE SHEETS.

APPLICATION FILED APR/7.19mi

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

A minute AAAA PAT 14w am Andante 13 flttozm FL, mfl m ML w vtmeo eo No. 854,064. PATENTED MAY 21, 1907.

P. K. VAN YORX. MARKING FOR NOTE SHEETS.

PPLIO TION FILED .7 1906. A A APR s SHEETS-SHEET 2 E f 5. E .4.

Andanh' Andante i l T IA A A A E A l A I T l R 1 T l T I i E R R 1 R R i R A Q A i A q htmeoaeo 3H va. 1 ltOZ W 12% 4 KW No. 864,064. PATENTED MAY 21, 1907.

P. K. VAN YORK. MARKING FOR NOTE SHEETS.

APPLIOATION FILED APR.7.1906.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Andante distinguishing characters.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PERCIVAL KEELER VAN YORX, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE WVILCOX & WHITE COMPANY, OF MERIDEN, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORA- TION OF CONNECTICUT.

MARKING FOR NOTE-SHEETS- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 21, 1907.

Application filed April 7, 1906. Serial No. 810,523.

To a, w/tom it 77mg concern.-

Be it known that I, PERCIVAL KEELER VAN YoRx, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, N. Y., have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Marking for Note-Sheets, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to an improved marking for perforated note sheets for automatic musical instruments, piano players, and the like, the object being to provide a system of marking which will clearly indicate to the operator the precise changes necessary to an artistic rendering of the particular piece being executed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view on a reduced scale of a portion of a note sheet bearing thereon my improved marking as applied to tempo only. Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are similar views illustrating modifications. Fig. 5 illustrates a further development of my invention, where not only the tempo changes are indicated, but volume changes as well.

In the note sheet shown in the drawings, I have not attempted to illustrate the perforations commonly provided therein. In almost every musical composition there is a normal tempo, which, in the main, prevails throughout the piece. ,For example, it may be presto, andante, allegro, etc. To that end, therefore, music rolls orsheets of this character itsually at the outset bear a word indicating to the user the normal tempo, so that the speed regulator may be properly set. In addition, such instruments are usually provided with additional means to permit the user to vary this tempo as required. In the drawings I have employed characters which are particularly adapted to tempo changes, and, therefore, in the main in this applica tion I shall refer to the marking as tempo marking. By this marking the user will I e informed with c'learness and certainty whether to accelerate or retard at particular places. This is brought about by the use of By the use of such marking as I have devised it is not only easier for the operator to follow the approved variation, but it is much more difficult for him to make an error, than by the use of any of the previously known methods of marking.

As shown in Fig. 1, the Ts, for example, are arranged on what I will term the normal tempo line, unmistakably indicating to the user that so long as this line is traversing a given point, say the tracker, the normal tempo should prevail. Branching out or looping out laterally from this normal tempo plane or line are other characters, for example, A, to indicate accelerando. The degree to which these characters are ofiset from the normal tempo line may indicate to the user the degree of acceleration required. So also branching out or looping out from the normal tempo line are the letters R, for example, indicating that the speed shall be retarded. In this Fig. 1, the distinguishing tempo characters project from opposite sides of the normal tempo line, but, by my new system of marking, this is not necessary, as will be shown later.

In Fig. 2 I have shown the same system of marking, substituting dash characters for the normal tempo line, instead of the character T. I have also, in Fig. 2, carried out these dash characters in a continuous line and gain thereby this substantial advantage,when a user of a sheet marked as shown in Fig. 2 directs his eye thereto, he may easily detect at all times when there is to be an acceleration or a retard, and the distance that these dis tinguishing characters are from the normal tempo line will make it-clear to him what de gree of retard is expected. This arrangement is of great advantage where, for a long period during the composition, there shall be an accelerando. In such an event, it might happen that only so much of the paper as is visible to the user as it traverses the tracker will bear the acceleration characters. If he cannot see the normal tempo line it is most difficult to judge of the degree of acceleration required. To that end, therefore, I prefer to provide a practically continuous normal tempo line. Now assume that portion between the dotted lines, X-X and YY, can only be seen by the operator. He will know, front the space between the'characters A and the normal tempo line, what degree of acceleration is to be provided.

In Fig. 3 I have illustrated the normal tempo line by dashes, as in Fig. 2, but said line does not continue across that space Where the accelerating or retarding is to occur.

In Fig. 4 I have illustrated a modification in which the great advantages of distinguishing characters for tempo marking may be more readily seen and appreciated. For example, in this instance changes in tempo, both accelerando and retard, are on one side of the normal tempo linc, instead of on opposite sides, and yet the user would have no excuse for an error, because the distinguishing characters will tell him at all times precisely what tempo and what degree of change is required. The Ts in this case, as in Fig. 1, denote the normal tempo line, the As accelerando and the Rs retard. then it is desired to have other marking on the note sheet this latter method of marking is of particular advantage because of its compactness.

It will be understood that the using of distinguishing characters which suggest desired change in tempo, such as A for accelerando, and R for retard, is preferable, but that my invention is not limited thereto.

The tempo marking, in all instances, extends in a line longitudinally of the sheet, and the characters are sufficiently close together to form a practically uninterrupted line, by which I mean sufficiently close together to keep the operator properly posted throughout the rendering of any composition.

A further and very important development of my invention contemplates the use of a line made up of tempo distinguishing characters or marks, the positionof the line itself to the middle, right or left, indicating to the operator tone volume. F or example, as shown in Fig. 5, the characters of the line in the middle of the sheet may. indicate the normal tone volume or mezzo forte. Where this line extends to the right, it indicates an increase of volume and the degree thereof. So Where the line leads toward the left, the volume of tone should be diminished and the extent to which this line extends to the right or left indicates the change in volume and degree thereof. Therefore, in this method the single line by its position indicates the tone volume, while the distinguishing marks employed in marking the line indicate the de sired tempo, or vice versa.

I Wish to have it understood that it is guite immaterial to my invention how the lstinguishing characters or marks are made to indicate tempo changes, so long as some distinct method of marking be employed to indicate with clearness and exactness the desired changes.

Inasmuch as my improved system of marking comprehends changes in tempo and also changes in Volume, it will be seen that it is essentially a marking to indicate differences in expression which may be either as to volume, or tempo, or both.

hat is claimed is:

1. As an article of manufzu-ture, a note sheet for automatic music playing instruments, and the like, an expression marking thereon comprising different distinguishing characters arranged in series extending longitudinally of the sheet to form in effect a line to indicate certain differences.

2. As an article of manufacture, a note sheet for automatic music playing instruments and the like, an expression marking thereon comprising different distinguishing characters arranged in series extending'lon gitudinally of the sheet to form in effect a line to indicate certain difl'erences, said line extending to the right and left relatively to the length of the sheet to indicate certain other differences.

3. As an article of manufacture, a note sheet for automatic music playing instruments and the like, an expression marking thereon comprising a series of different distinguishing characters arranged in line longitudinally of the sheet, said characters indieating certain differei'ices said characters moving away from a given longitudinal line to indicate certain other differences.

4. As an article of manufacture, a note sheet for automatic music playing instruments and the like, an expression marking thereon comprising different distinguishing letters arranget'l in series extending longitudinally of the sheet to form in effect a line to indicate certain differences.

5. As an article of manufacture, a note sheet for automatic music playing instruments and the like, an expression marking thereon comprising different distinguishing letters arranged in series extending longitudinally of the sheet to form in effect a line to indicate certain differences, said line extending to the right and left relatively to the length of the sheet to indicate certain other differences.

lEltClYAl; HEEL tilt VAN YOlfX.

\Yitnesses:

H. C. MITCHELL, li. VREELAND. 

